Religious Tragedies in India

According to The Hindu, at least 39 people were killed and over 57 injured in a stampede by Hindu worshippers.They were rushing to bathe in the Godavari River at the Kumbh Mela festival held every 12 years in Nashik, Maharashtra.Witnesses said the victims were trampled to death when pilgrims broke down a barricade blocking their way to the river.

Naina Devi temple, 2008

Heavy rain caused a landslide, and a railing wall collapsed at Naina Devi Temple in Himachal Pradesh. Panic-stricken devotees rushed downhill and caused a stampede, leaving 146 people dead and 300 injured, according to a TOI report.

Chamunda Devi temple, 2008

Rumours of a bomb blast caused a stampede at Chamunda Devi temple in Rajasthan, Jodhpur, where devotees had gathered for celebrating Navratri.The shrine is in the Mehrangarh Fort run by the erstwhile Jodhpur royal family. At least 145 devotees were killed and 425 injured, according to a report by CNN IBN.

Image Credit: Mid Day

Mandher Devi temple , 2005

About 300,000 people converged on the Mandher Devi temple near Wai in Satara ,Maharashtra to undertake the annual pilgrimage on the full moon day in January.Witness accounts for the cause of the stampede varied with few citing an electrical short circuit in a local stall and others blaming commotion caused by frustated devotees waiting to gain entry inside the temple.The crowds rushed to a narrow path leading to the temple, and a stampede resulted causing 300 deaths and injury to over 200 according to BBC.

Sabarimala , 2011

As reported by TOI, 104 devotees were killed and 50 injured in a stampede at Pulmedu in Idukki district, Kerala near the famous hill-top shrine of Sabarimala, where they had gathered to watch the celestial "Makarajyothi". The tragedy occured when a jeep crashed into homebound pilgrims and overturned, triggering the stampede.